Night crossing in a narrow channel: three vessels
You are skipper of a 12 m power-driven motor cruiser proceeding up a narrow channel at 7 kn. It is night with good visibility. Your heading is 000°T. You see three vessels. Vessel A is a power-driven vessel bearing 020°T at 1.2 nm, heading 270°T at 9 kn; you can see her red sidelight and white masthead light. Vessel B is a sailing vessel under sail bearing 300°T at 0.6 nm, heading 120°T at 5 kn. Vessel C is ahead, showing two red lights in a vertical line and a white light, bearing 350°T at 0.8 nm; she is not making way. The channel is about 0.3 nm wide. There is a following vessel 0.5 nm astern. You have VHF, radar reflector and sound-signalling equipment.
1. For each vessel, state whether you are stand-on or give-way and the rule that applies.
Read the worked answer
Vessel A is a power-driven vessel crossing from your starboard side. You have her on your starboard side, so you are the give-way vessel under the crossing rule (Rule 15); A is stand-on.
Vessel B is a sailing vessel under sail. You are power-driven, so you must keep out of her way under Rule 18; B is stand-on. Her being on your port side does not change that.
Vessel C shows two red lights in a vertical line, so she is a vessel not under command. All vessels must keep out of her way; you cannot claim stand-on rights against her.
2. Describe a safe sequence of actions, including speed/course changes and any sound signals. Explain why turning to starboard alone is not a complete solution.
Read the worked answer
Reduce speed early and substantially, possibly to idle or neutral, to let A pass ahead and to give B room to cross ahead. Keep well clear of C. Check the following vessel before slowing. If you alter course to starboard, give one short blast; if you alter to port, two short blasts; if you operate astern propulsion, three short blasts. Do not use a sound signal unless you are actually taking that action.
Turning to starboard alone is not complete: A is on your starboard bow, so a starboard turn can close her and put you across her track. A reduction in speed is the safer primary action here because it lets A pass ahead while also keeping you clear of B. Keep to the starboard side of the channel as safe, and be ready to stop if the geometry becomes unclear.
3. If visibility deteriorates to fog, what additional precautions and sound signals would you take?
Read the worked answer
Reduce speed to the minimum needed to steer, post a lookout forward, switch on navigation lights, start radar if fitted, and listen for other vessels. In fog, a power-driven vessel making way through the water sounds one prolonged blast at intervals of not more than 2 minutes. If stopped and making no way, she sounds two prolonged blasts with about 2 seconds between them.
Be ready to stop or turn away; do not rely on one source of information. Keep clear of C, and remember that a vessel not under command sounds one prolonged followed by two short blasts. If in doubt, take way off and avoid committing to the narrowest part of the channel.